November 11, 2011

Friday Food Focus: A Guide to Vinegar, with Recipes!

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by Lana Buseman

Vinegar is one of the most versatile condiments you can work with. It can tenderize meat, it can deglaze a pan to help you scrape up the carmelized bits and it can bring a zing of flavor to dressings! There are as many different types of vinegar as there are uses and each one is a little bit different.

Today I am sharing an overview of some of the most popular kinds of vinegar and some ideas on how to use them!

Apple Cider Vinegar

This is one of my go-to vinegars that I always have on hand. It is made from fermented apple cider so it has a sweeter, milder taste than other vinegars. This type of vinegar is great for salad dressings or marinades. I love using apple cider vinegar when I sauté kale.

Sautéed Kale with Tomatoes and Cider Vinegar

Ingredients

1 bunch kale, ribs and stems removed

2 cloves garlic, diced

½ cup cherry tomatoes, quartered

1 medium onion, sliced

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 table spoon cider vinegar

Salt to flavor

Red pepper flakes, optional

Directions

Heat your oil in a deep pan over medium heat and add onions. Cook until translucent.

Add kale to the pan and a splash of water to help steam. Once kale begins to wilt, add tomatoes, garlic and red pepper flakes.

Add salt and cook over medium-high heat until kale is wilted. Stir in vinegar and sauté for 4-5 minutes. Kale should be very soft and tender.

Sprinkle with salt and pepper and serve!

Balsamic Vinegar

Balsamic is one of the sweetest kinds of vinegar and usually comes from the Emilia-Romagna area of Italy. Balsamic vinegar is like a fine wine: the longer it’s aged, the better it it. . . and the more expensive it is. You can find balsamic vinegar that is very concentrated and sweet, called Cream of Balsamic, or the version that is less concentrated, which is widely available in grocery stores. Balsamic vinegar, being sweeter, is excellent for helping the caramelization process and creating a nice glaze on whatever you are cooking. Here is a quick recipe for balsamic glazed roasted veggies!

Rice vinegar is a slightly sweet and sour vinegar that is used most commonly in Asian cooking. It is often added to cooked rice that is going to be used to make sushi. It is also great in marinades for meat that you plan to grill, especially chicken. The way I like rice vinegar is in cucumber salad. This salad is customarily served with satay at Thai restaurants and it is just so tasty and refreshing!

Cucumber Salad with Rice Vinegar

Ingredients

1 cucumber, peeled and sliced thin

¼ onion, sliced thin

Rice vinegar

Directions

Place cucumber and onion in bowl and pour rice vinegar over the top until cucumbers and onions are covered.

Cover and allow to marinate in the refrigerator for at least an hour before serving.

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Plus! Click here for information on even more types of vinegar and ways to use them!

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